The Phoenix Prophecy: Nova
: Chapter 17

Back in the bar, I’m still flushed. My hair is a mess from leaning hard against the back of the desk. My skin’s pink. And I swear Luther knew something was going on when he found me sneaking out into the hall. The way he looked at me? Like I have ‘I’ve just had the best orgasm of my life’ tattooed on my forehead.

Kole and Tanner are where I left them. Kole serving drinks, Tanner on his stool nursing his beer. They’re clearly much better at this than I am. If I hadn’t been in the room with them, I’d never have known anything happened. There are no furtive glances, no knowing looks; nothing.

“I thought you were going to change?” Tanner gives me a quizzical look. I frown at him, no idea what he’s talking about. He points to my shirt. Still damp from the water I spilled.

“Oh,” I laugh. “Yes. I was, but I thought it’d be more fun to let you show me a magick trick.”

Tanner’s lips break into a grin. “Challenge accepted.” He beckons me around to his side of the bar, puts his hands on my hips, and tugs me closer so I’m standing between his knees. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

How can he flirt with me when he’s just done what he did with Kole?

I should probably be outraged, but what I’m feeling is the opposite. If anything, I’m inflamed. My fear, and nerves, and memories drowned out by hot, molten lust. I don’t think I’ve even felt lust before. Not like this. Is this what it’s supposed to feel like?

“Ready?” Tanner tilts his head.

I blink at him, then nod. He places his palm flat on my stomach. Normally, a gesture like that would make me uncomfortable. Worried I’m not toned enough or slim enough, but when his skin makes contact with the fabric of my shirt, and I feel his warmth, all I can think about is the way his hands looked when they were under the desk, wrapped around his cock.

I blink quickly and shake my head. He’s an empath, for God’s sake. He can probably feel the perviness coming off me in waves.

“All done.” Tanner sits back. One hand is still on my waist. With the other, he brushes his hair from his forehead.

I look down. He’s right; my shirt is now completely dry. “Wow.”

“You think that’s impressive? You should see what I can do with an ice cube.”

Before I can stop myself, I giggle like a schoolgirl and put my hand on his shoulder. I’ve never done this before; flirted so openly, so confidently. But with the fizzing sensation that’s still lingering between my legs, all I want is more. More Tanner. More of the way he looks at me. More of the way he makes me feel.

Behind him, there’s a deep chuckle and Mack appears through the crowd. “Ah, the ice cube line. An old one, but a good one.”

Tanner shoots Mack a death stare and I step back a little. Of course, he’s used that line before.

“Ignore him.” Tanner brushes his fingertips across my knuckles. “Listen, have you eaten this evening? Because I’m starving.”

I glance at Kole. “I’m not sure when my shift finishes.”

“I’m sure Kole can handle things until closing.” Tanner stands up and waves to get Kole’s attention. “You okay with us taking Nova back home for food?”

Kole nods without looking at me. “Fine.”

“Us?” Mack asks, reaching over the bar to throw his empty bottle into the large plastic recycling bucket.

“I assumed you’d be cooking.” Tanner grabs his jacket from the back of his barstool.

“I won’t pretend to be surprised.” Mack looks across the room at Luther and gestures to him that we’re leaving. Luther remains seated for a moment before finally standing up and striding over. At the door, he says, “Who’s cooking?”

“Mack.” Tanner jerks his head at the professor.

“Good.” He looks at me. “Tanner’s a terrible cook.”

Out in the street, heading for Tanner’s truck while Mack straddles a huge, black Harley and Luther unlocks his patrol car, I stop and nudge Tanner’s side. “Did you see that? Luther actually spoke to me.”

“Hah.” Tanner laughs. “Only because he was trying to put you off me.”

As he opens the passenger door and offers me a hand up into the truck, I look down at him and smile. “I’m not into you for your cooking skills.”

Tanner’s eyes lock onto mine. “Is that so?” He inches closer. “But you are into me?”

I put my hand on the door, and move to pull it shut. As he steps out of the way, I tell him. “Maybe.”

The Hollow is a huge old building on the outskirts of town, accessed by a long sweeping driveway, and surrounded by dense pine forest.

“There’s a stream out back. It’s idyllic,” Tanner says as he pulls up out front.

Mack’s Harley and Luther’s cop car are already here.

“Mack owns this place?”

“Sure does.” Tanner jumps out then heads to my door to open it.

As we approach the huge stone steps, something about the place makes me shudder. “It’s a little… gloomy.”

“It’s better in daylight.” Tanner takes the steps two at a time, and the large wooden door swings open without him needing a key.

“Why is it called The Hollow?”

We’re in the entrance hall. It’s dimly lit, candles flickering in the windows, and a large spiral staircase leading to the upper floors.

“You know what? I’ve never asked.” Tanner crosses the hall and gestures for me to follow.

Through another door and down a long hallway, we emerge in a bright airy room with high ceilings and a huge glass window framing the garden at the back of the property. It’s dark out, but soft white lights illuminate the trees and flower beds.

Mack is rummaging in the fridge. When he turns around, he’s holding armfuls of veggies, which he deposits on the countertop before going back for more.

“Hungry, Baloo?” Tanner pats him firmly on the shoulder.

In almost a growl, Mack responds, “You want to eat? Or not?”

Grabbing a bottle of water and tossing me one too, Tanner heads for my side of the counter.

“Baloo?” I ask in a hushed voice. When Tanner doesn’t answer, I add, “Let me guess? Another long story?”

“There’s a few of them around here.” Tanner takes a swig of water. I watch his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallows it. “Mack, time for me to give Nova the grand tour?”

“Twenty minutes.” Mack has started chopping tomatoes. “Tell Luther.”

As we leave the kitchen, I can’t help laughing, and Tanner turns to look at me. “Something funny?”

“You guys. It’s like Mack’s the dad and you, Kole, and Luther are the unruly teenagers.”

“It does feel like that sometimes. But, nah, he’s more of a brother than a dad.”

“Not stern enough to be a dad?”

“Oh, no. He’s stern. But he knows how to have a good time, too.” Stopping and pushing open another door, as if in evidence, Tanner leads me into another large room. This one contains a pool table, a jukebox and, suspended from the ceiling, a disco ball. I look up at it and laugh. “Very retro.”

“I’ll have you know, we’ve had some very risqué times in this room.” Tanner saunters over to the pool table and hops up onto it. Patting the green tabletop, he wiggles his eyebrows and I join him.

For a moment, neither of us speaks. Before I can think about whether it’s a good idea or not, I find myself saying, “Is it weird that this feels a bit like a date?”

In my previous life, I’d never have dreamed of saying something like that to a guy I just met. No matter how much I thought he might like me back. But the Nova who lives in Phoenix Falls is different. She’s ballsy. And I like her.

Tanner’s eyes flicker as he studies my face. Gently, he brushes my hair from my shoulder. He moves closer, just a little, and I think he’s going to kiss me. Instead, he dips his head and presses his lips into the curve between my neck and my shoulder. A shiver snakes down my spine. His tongue flicks out, his teeth graze my skin. Slowly, he nibbles a line of kisses across the bridge of my shoulder. When he reaches my arm, he sits back. He’s looking at my scar. He traces it with his index finger, and when he looks back at me, his eyes are different. Darker. “Did your ex do this to you?”

I can’t speak. An mmm sound comes from my pursed lips.

Tanner’s fingers move from my arm to my back. In one movement, he scoots back and pulls me onto his lap. Both hands are on my back now, warm and smooth against my skin. His fingertips trace gentle circles. I groan and lean into him, reaching up to caress the back of his neck.

But when his fingers reach the knot of my halter top, I freeze. He’s going to undress me. Sun, moon, and stars, I want him to. But if he does, he’ll see the mark Johnny gave me.

I pull back a little and stare into his eyes, searching for something, anything, that tells me I can trust him with my secret.

“It’s okay.” He’s stopped. His hands are sliding down to my waist. He pulls me in and hugs me tight. “It’s okay. We just met. I’m being too full-on. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head at him. “Too full-on? No, it’s just…”

“Nova, I’m not sure if you know this, but I’m an empath.” Tanner looks a little sheepish, as if this is something he should have told me sooner. “I swear, I’m not reading your mind. I would never do that, but sometimes I can’t help feeling what other people are feeling. Since we were back at the bar, I kinda felt like you…” He laughs and shakes his head.

“Wanted to rip your clothes off?” I finish his sentence, fighting a nervous smile.

“Something like that, yeah.” He strokes the side of my face. “But when I was about to undress you just now? That feeling disappeared. You’re not ready, and if something happens between us, I want you to be…” He searches for the word. “Fired up. One-hundred percent certain.” His fingers move again to the scar on my arm. “I would never hurt you. Ever.”

I’m still in his lap, and his arms are wrapped around me. I let myself sink into his chest and rest my head, listening to his heartbeat. “I know you wouldn’t.” I press my eyes closed and fight the moisture that’s biting at them.

Everything in my body is telling me I should be with Tanner tonight, but how can I? How can I ever be with him when it would expose who I really am?

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